Linking Problems Reported by Care Partners of Individuals With Alzheimer’s Disease and Lewy Body Dementia to the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health

Chung Lin Kew, Shannon B. Juengst, Brendan Kelley, Candice L. Osborne

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to classify, describe, and compare the problems reported by care partners of adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Lewy body dementia (LBD) using the International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) Methods: Problems that care partners experience were collected during a problem-solving training intervention. The meaningful concepts were then extracted and linked to the ICF using a standardized linking technique. Results: 402 meaningful concepts were extracted from 128 problems reported by care partners. 79.4% of the concepts were linkable to the ICF. “Body functions” was most frequently addressed followed by “Activities and participation.” LBD care partners reported more problems (M = 23.6 ± 13.4) on average than AD care partners (M = 19.4 ± 12.1). LBD care partners reported greater relative proportions of problems in mental function (emotional and sleep functions) than AD care partners. Conclusion: This study suggests that the experience of LBD care partners may include significantly more challenges and may be more emotionally demanding than the care experience of AD care partners. Interventions designed to support care partners of adults with dementia may need to be tailored to meet the needs of care partners based on the care receiver’s type of dementia.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalGerontology and Geriatric Medicine
Volume8
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 10 2022

Keywords

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • International Classification of Functioning
  • Lewy body dementia
  • care partners
  • caregiving
  • dementia care
  • disability and health

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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